My Cat Peed On Himself (How Do I Clean Him?)

cat peed on itself in litter box

A couple of months ago, my cat had trouble peeing and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.

When we got home from the vet, I noticed that he had urinated on himself in the carrier. His underbelly and tail were all soaked in his urine.

Cat urine can really stink so what’s the best way to get it off your cat?

Most cats will attempt to clean themselves but you should use some warm water and a cleaning solution to make sure there isn’t any residual pee left. Use something pet safe like Dawn detergent or cat shampoo. 

In this article, we will explore the causes of feline bathroom mishaps and how you can go about cleaning your cat.

Why Does Cat Urine Smell So Bad?

“The real stench is caused by a chemical compound called felinine in the cat’s pee.”

If you have not cleaned your cat’s litter box for a day or two, you will be able to notice a very sharp stench emitting from it that can make your eyes water.

This is caused by the release of ammonia when the bacteria in the cat urine start to break down the urea.

The real stench is caused by a chemical compound called felinine in the cat’s urine. The longer felinine is exposed to the air, the smellier and more pungent it gets.

This is great for cats in the wild who use this smell to mark their territory and attract mates but not for our dear domestic indoor cats.

How To Clean A Cat That Has Peed On Itself?

The first thing that you need to do is remove your cat from the puddle of urine.

There are some methods that you can use to effectively remove the urine smell from your cat.

Give Your Cat A Shower

shower your cat

Giving your cat a bath or shower would be the best way to remove the cat urine stains and odor on its body.

Make sure to use cat shampoo and not human shampoo as it can be too drying for your cat’s skin.

Do not use water that is too warm on your cat as that will tend to set the odor and make it smell worse.

It was once rumored that it is possible to get high from smelling cat urine. Given how pungent your cat’s pee can be, it can definitely make your head spin.

Use Pet Wipes Or A Damp Cloth

“When using wet wipes on your cat, make sure it is always pet friendly.”

There might be times when showering your cat isn’t a feasible option. It could be that your cat just had an operation or just hates being showered.

You can use pet wet wipes or a damp cloth instead to clean your cat.

I took my pet wipes and soaked them in a mixture of my cat’s shampoo and a little bit of apple cider vinegar.

You can also choose to use dawn liquid detergent which is gentle on pets.

The reason for using apple cider vinegar is that it helps to neutralize the odors better. But do not use too much as it can irritate your cat’s skin.

Focus more on the parts with the cat urine stains and gently rub your cat. When using wet wipes on your cat, make sure it is always pet friendly.

The ones meant for human use can contain alcohol and other added ingredients that can be toxic for your cat.

Once you have gotten out the pee from your cat, get a clean towel and dry your cat.

How To Clean Cat Pee In The Carrier?

If your cat has urinated inside its carrier, on the carpet or anywhere else in the house besides its litter box, speed is of the essence when it comes to cleaning cat pee.

The longer you let the urine set, the harder it will be to remove cat urine stains and smell.

What I would usually do is douse the carrier with a lot of water and sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom.

Baking soda is good at absorbing all the nasty odors. To double up on the effectiveness, I will spray some vinegar on the area as well.

Let everything sit for a good 30 minutes before rinsing off with water.

Rinse and repeat if necessary.

It can be more difficult to remove cat pee from the carpet as the material tends to absorb the odor. You can consider using an enzyme cleaner which can help to break down the odor molecules.

These cleaners are available in pet stores and are not toxic to cats.

Why Is My Cat Urinating On Itself?

cat pee on sofa

Cats are clean and cautious creatures. Peeing on themselves is as good as giving away their location to a hungry predator.

This is why cats always tend to bury their waste to eliminate a scent trail. Something isn’t right with your cat’s health if it has been urinating on itself.

Here are some possible reasons:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections are usually the number one cause of many urinary issues in cats. It can happen to both female and male cats.

A UTI is caused by a bacterial infection that affects the urethra of the cat causing it to be inflamed and swollen.

Your cat will have the frequent urge to urinate but peeing is also painful for the cat.

One common tell-tale sign is seeing your cat meow when digging in the litter box without peeing.

Weak Bladder

A cat who is suffering from urinary continence means that it isn’t able to hold its pee until it gets to the litter box.

This condition is common in older cats whose bladder muscles get weaker as they get older.

If your cat likes sleeping near the front door and its litter box is in the backyard, your cat might just pee in your shoes since it’s the closest thing to a litter box that is within reach.

Spinal Cord Injury

If your cat has a recent or existing spinal cord injury, it can cause urinary incontinence in your cat as well.

When the nerves in your cat’s spinal cord are damaged, it can affect the proper functioning of the bladder and urinary tract.

Another common symptom is fecal incontinence when the cat is leaking poop everywhere due to the lack of bowel control.

Obese Cat

fat cat lying on floor

Fat cats are deemed to be cute on social media but these owners are doing more harm than good to their cats.

Feline obesity can cause many other health problems like diabetes, chronic kidney disease and hormonal imbalance, all of which can mess up your cat’s urinary health.

Cats with feline diabetes tend to have urine that is sticky when it dries due to the presence of glucose in the urine.

Insufficient Litter Boxes

“Sharing litter boxes between cats in the same household is a big no-no.”

Cats value their privacy and don’t like smelling another cat’s waste products in its litter box.

If you have more than one cat at home, please ensure that each cat has its litter box. Sharing litter boxes between cats in the same household is a big no-no.

When cats smell the waste of another cat in its litter box, it can discourage them from using the litter box properly.

This means that it will probably do so at some other part of the house which is the last thing you want.

Why Did My Cat Pee On Itself After Surgery?

It can be a common occurrence for cats to pee on themselves after surgery. This happens when they are confined to their carrier or a cage for monitoring.

If your cat is in a lot of pain after its surgery, it can also affect its usual toilet habits which can result in urinary incontinence.

Most vets will put on a pet diaper on your cat or line the inside of the carrier with it to prevent too much of a mess.

What’s The Difference Between Spraying And Peeing?

If you have an unneutered male cat, there might be times when it looks like he is peeing on the wall.

Technically speaking, that action is known as spraying and it does involve the use of cat pee as well.

Spraying is more common with male cats and is used to mark their territory and communicate with other cats. The male cat will spray both his urine and fluids from its anal glands.

The behavior is usually done on the wall or a piece of furniture.

Peeing is basically your cat’s way of removing its waste.

Should I Bring My Cat To The Vet?

Feline toilet mishaps do happen from time to time especially if you have a kitten or a cat that is unwell. But this should not be considered normal behavior from a cat.

If you do notice a change in your cat’s litter box habits, it would be best to bring your cat to the vet for a physical examination.

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